Lando Norris has claimed pole position for the Miami Sprint race, ending Mercedes' streak of qualifying dominance this season. The McLaren driver's performance marks the first time a non-Mercedes car has secured pole in the 2026 season.
Norris set a blistering time of 1:27.869 in a tightly contested Sprint Qualifying session, edging out championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by 0.222 seconds. This result signifies a significant moment for McLaren, who have introduced a substantial upgrade package for this event.
Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate, will start the Sprint from third on the grid, with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in fourth. Max Verstappen, despite a challenging season thus far, qualified fifth, demonstrating a potentially improved pace for his Red Bull.
The Sprint Qualifying session was characterized by a one-lap shootout format, with all 10 cars remaining in their garages until the crucial moments.
Read More: McLaren takes pole for Miami sprint race, Piastri wins Grand Prix
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton found themselves further down the order, with Russell qualifying sixth and Hamilton seventh. This marks a departure from Mercedes' consistent front-row lockouts seen in the opening Grands Prix of the year.
The performance of McLaren and Ferrari with their recent upgrades has caught rivals by surprise. The competitive landscape appears to be shifting as teams introduce new developments.
Formula 1 returns to action with the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race later today, followed by the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
